Aug. 25, 2025
Apparel
Are you looking for a label material guide that can help you ensure that you get the most suitable material for your product? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here, we aim to list down the different label materials you can choose from along with their pros and cons and other important tips when finding the perfect labels for your small business.
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Picking the right label is crucial to make sure that the label fulfills the task you expect it to. Maybe using paper labels is very tempting because they are cheap and you can save a lot of money. But, selecting alternative options that can do a better job can benefit your business more than you think.
For instance, there are labels that are designed for professional applications or for certain environmental conditions. Not all label materials are suited for every application. Each material has its own unique characteristics and qualities to ensure efficiency and achieve the look you want. To help you understand more about label materials, we will discuss the most important things you need to know here. Let’s start with paper labels in the next section.
Paper – the most common type of label material used in many consumer products today. Paper facestocks are specifically designed with different characteristics to match the look you want to achieve. Common papers used for labels include the following:
We will discuss more on paper label types in the succeeding section along with other label material specifications.
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There are generally two substrate types used in product labels: film and paper. To help you choose which material is best for your application, below is a summary of the pros and cons of each material:
These types of labels are made from synthetic materials so they are more flexible and durable materials compared to paper.
Pros
Cons
Recommended Applications
Below are the common film face stocks you can find in the market:
Vinyl
Polypropylene
Polyolefin
Polyimide
Polyethylene
Polyester
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These labels have paper base layers but can come in different coatings, thicknesses, and colors too.
Pros
Cons
Recommended Applications
Below is a list of common paper face stocks you can choose from:
Inkjet
Laser
High-Gloss
Semi-Gloss
Direct Thermal
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Thermal Transfer
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Aside from the two main label material categories (paper and film), labels are also categorized according to other features like transparency, type of finish, and resistance to environmental factors as listed below:
You should not only focus on label material but also on the label format which of course, will depend on how you are going to print your labels. We discussed the differences between fanfold labels and roll labels in our previous blogs. Now, let us also compare roll labels and sheet labels and their suitable applications here.
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In relation to roll and sheet labels, you can also read our blog on choosing between permanent tags and peelable labels.
There are some things to consider before choosing your material. Along with the look and feel you want to convey, there are many other factors to think about. It is important for your label to stick to your product’s packaging and deliver its intended purpose which is to communicate information effectively and draw the attention of potential customers.
Although we’ve included the recommended applications of each label material above, below is a summary of the factors you need to consider when choosing label materials for your product:
Your label should be easily readable and visible. If you use a label that blends with your container’s color, the label will be hard to read. Choose a label color that contrasts the container color. For translucent or transparent containers, the perfect choice would be clear labels.
You also need to consider the container’s shape because not all labels can easily conform to any shape. The container’s shape can strain the label material so choose something that can bear that strain. For instance, film labels are more flexible than paper labels and are recommended for oddly shaped containers.
Consider the temperature, moisture, and other conditions your label will be going through. How long do you want it to last?
In general, below are the recommended labels for different environments:
The type of surface you are going to apply your label is crucial in deciding the type of label material and adhesive you are going to choose. Why? Because labels react differently with different materials and surfaces. Below are what we recommend for different container materials:
Lastly, labels can either be applied by machine or by hand. For instance, if you are going to apply by hand, choose a label material that you can easily hold and stick to surfaces like paper labels. On the other hand, clear labels are delicate and no bubbles should form during the application process so you might need a labeling machine.
Choosing the perfect label for your product is important to make sure that you create not only an appealing but also an effective label design. So to help you pick the right one for your product, below are the most common product types along with the most suitable labels for each of them:
Food labels should be accurately labeled and visually inviting to attract customers easily. To achieve this goal, below are what businesses commonly use:
Freezer labels fall under two main categories: wet and dry conditions. For dry conditions, paper materials that are designed for dry or cold exposure are recommended. For wet conditions, synthetic materials that are meant for wet or cold exposure are more suitable like vinyl, polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene. In addition, here’s a guide to choosing the right freezer labels you can read.
For beer and beverage products, choose label materials that can protect your product while providing an enticing look that differentiates your brand from the others. Materials that are often used for soda, cider, beer, and others are the following:
For meal delivery applications, the packages are often thrown away so it is not practical to go for expensive label materials. Just go for cheap paper labels that can still provide an attractive look to your products.
Pharmaceutical packaging laws are more stringent compared to pharmaceutical labels but this doesn’t mean that you should just pick any label that works. You must also choose a low migration label material to prevent product contamination. Below are our recommendations:
You can also read our blog on the importance, types, and alternatives to pharmaceutical packaging.
Peel and resealable labels are becoming popular nowadays and are commonly used for dry food goods and personal care products. They are portable and easier to open. Moreover, they are designed for food-based reseal products and hard-to-hold wipe applications to allow for additional graphics or text. Below are other uses of peel and resealable labels:
Let’s end our discussion with how you should choose the right label material for your printer.
Basically, you should always make sure that the label material you will be choosing is compatible with your printer. This information is often written on your printer’s manual so make sure to check it before you buy your labels. Sometimes, labels are also marked with details regarding printer compatibility like Inkjet Only or Laser Only.
Not all printers can support multiple label materials and some labels are more suited for specific types of printers. Although most label papers can work for both Inkjet and laser printers, some are designed to work only for a single type of printer and are not interchangeable. Different printers support different label sizes, shapes, and thicknesses too so make sure to check your printer’s specifications and recommended label printing guidelines.
One convenient way on how you can make sure that your label will work well with your printer is by searching online and checking what type of printers work best with your labels. This way, you can avoid wasting money due to unusable labels.
If you don’t own a label printer yet and want to buy one, you can read our recommendations below:
Now that you know your label material options, make sure that you decide thoroughly which can fulfill your requirements best. Aside from external conditions and the type of container where you are going to apply the label, consider your label printer too because label printers can only handle specific label types. For more label guides, check out our other related blogs below:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Printed BOPP Film.
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